JPWO2007123025A1 - Technology to control communication with external devices using a proxy server - Google Patents

Abstract

Communication using an embedded device is realized more efficiently than before. An embedded device that communicates with another device via an external proxy server acting as a proxy for communication, and stores a communication device capable of communicating with the proxy server and a communication state between the other device. Control according to the control request in a state where the communication device and the proxy server are not communicable in response to receiving a control request for communication with another device from a task executed by the central processing unit. In the state where the communication device can communicate with the proxy server, the update unit that updates the communication state to the state after the normal operation is performed, the response unit that returns the update result of the communication state according to the control request to the task Embedded machine comprising: a control instruction unit that transmits an instruction for transitioning a communication state with another device in the server to a communication state stored in the storage unit to the proxy server using the communication device .

Description

  The present invention relates to an embedded device, a proxy server, a method, and a program. In particular, the present invention relates to an embedded device, a proxy server, a method, and a program for proxying communication control by an external proxy server.

  In recent years, functions required for software have become sophisticated. Also, with the proliferation of embedded devices such as mobile phones and digital home appliances, software may be required to run on a number of different platforms. In order to efficiently develop such software, model driven development (MMD) has been studied. According to model-driven development, software that actually operates on various platforms can be automatically generated from software specifications described in a unified modeling language (UML) or the like.

  As a technique for realizing model-driven development, the International Rose (R) RT of International Business Machines Corporation has been conventionally used. In this technology, a developer creates a software specification and modifies the specification on a highly versatile personal computer. The software generated based on the created or modified specification is transmitted to the embedded device via the communication line and executed. Furthermore, this technology also provides a debugging environment that can compare actual software and specifications. For example, the developer can confirm on the screen of the personal computer which part of the specification corresponds to the part being executed of the program executed by the embedded device.

JP 2002-63088 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-22391

  However, in order to perform such development, the embedded device must be provided with a communication function. In order to realize the communication function, for example, a communication device that can communicate by Ethernet (registered trademark) and a device driver that controls the communication device are required. Furthermore, some software for development requires TCP / IP control software, which is a general-purpose communication protocol. However, some embedded devices may not have a TCP / IP communication function. In such a case, it is necessary to separately develop a device driver or the like that is not employed in the final product, which may increase the development cost and prolong the development period.

  As a reference technique, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are listed. According to Patent Document 1, communication using a protocol such as TCP / IP can be converted into another protocol. Thereby, TCP / IP communication can be realized by using a communication line such as a serial interface without using Ethernet or the like. If this technology is applied, it is possible to eliminate the need for a communication device such as Ethernet in the embedded device. However, TCP / IP control software is necessary, and there is a risk of increasing the required memory capacity of an embedded device or the like.

  According to Patent Document 2, communication of a certain device can be delegated to another device. This is realized by calling a procedure for communication on the other apparatus by a remote procedure call (RPC) from the apparatus. However, the remote procedure call is premised on the establishment of TCP / IP communication. That is, even in this technique, control software based on TCP / IP is necessary, which may increase the necessary capacity of a memory such as an embedded device. In addition, when the communication status of the communication line is unstable, communication may be disconnected and cannot be resumed.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an embedded device, a proxy server, a method, and a program that can solve the above-described problems. This object is achieved by a combination of features described in the independent claims. The dependent claims define further advantageous specific examples of the present invention.

In order to solve the above problems, in the first embodiment of the present invention, an embedded device that communicates with another device via an external proxy server acting as a proxy for communication, and can communicate with the proxy server A communication device and a proxy server in response to receiving a control request for communication with another device from a task executed by the central processing unit, and a storage unit for storing a communication state between the communication device and the other device An update unit that updates the communication state to a state after successfully performing control according to the control request, and a response unit that returns the update result of the communication state according to the control request to the task. In the state where the communication device can communicate with the proxy server, the proxy device uses the communication device to issue an instruction for transitioning the communication state between other devices in the proxy server to the communication state stored in the storage unit. Providing embedded devices and a control instruction unit transmitting to server.
The above summary of the invention does not enumerate all the necessary features of the present invention, and sub-combinations of these feature groups can also be the invention.

  According to the present invention, communication by an embedded device can be realized more efficiently than before.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through the best mode for carrying out the invention (hereinafter, referred to as an embodiment). However, the following embodiment does not limit the invention according to the claims, and the embodiment is described below. All the combinations of features described in the above are not necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

  FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of the communication system 10. The communication system 10 includes a mobile phone 20, a proxy server 30, and a communication device 40. The mobile phone 20 is an example of an embedded device to be developed and debugged, and is connected to the proxy server 30 via a first communication line 25 such as a serial interface. Then, the mobile phone 20 executes the program under development or operation verification, notifies the communication device 40 of the execution state, and displays the execution state on the screen of the communication device 40. Further, the mobile phone 20 suspends or resumes the execution of the program based on the instruction received from the communication device 40. Note that the embedded device may be a PDA, a digital home appliance, an electronically controlled automobile, or the like instead of the mobile phone.

  The proxy server 30 is connected to the mobile phone 20 via the first communication line 25, and is connected to another device (for example, the communication device 40) and a second communication line 35 compliant with Ethernet (registered trademark) or the like. Connected. Then, the proxy server 30 performs control of communication with the communication device 40 by the mobile phone 20. For example, the proxy server 30 performs control of TCP / IP communication between the mobile phone 20 and the communication device 40 for the mobile phone 20 that does not have a TCP / IP communication control function. The communication device 40 operates a program for developing and debugging a program installed in the mobile phone 20. And the communication apparatus 40 acquires the execution state of the program which operate | moves on the mobile telephone 20 from the mobile telephone 20 by communicating with the proxy server 30 by TCP / IP, or the program which operate | moves on the mobile telephone 20 Suspend or resume execution of

  As described above, the communication system 10 according to the present embodiment is a proxy server provided outside an embedded device for an embedded device that is not equipped with a communication function based on a general-purpose communication protocol such as TCP / IP. It is an object to perform communication control according to the communication protocol by 30. As a result, since the mobile phone 20 does not need to be equipped with a program for communication control, the required capacity of the memory of the mobile phone 20 can be reduced, and the effort to develop a program that operates on the mobile phone 20 can be reduced. .

  FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration of the mobile phone 20. The mobile phone 20 includes a central processing unit 22, a storage unit 24, and a communication device 26. The central processing unit 22 executes a program installed in the mobile phone 20 in advance. The storage unit 24 is provided for executing this program or for storing a communication state with the communication device 40. The communication device 26 is communicably connected to the proxy server 30 via the first communication line 25. The first communication line 25 between the communication device 26 and the proxy server 30 may be temporarily unable to communicate. For example, the user may temporarily disconnect the first communication line 25 from the mobile phone 20 while the mobile phone 20 is executing a program.

  The central processing unit 22 functions as a task 200 and a communication module 210 by a program installed in the mobile phone 20 in advance. The task 200 includes calling an API (Application Programming Interface) for controlling TCP / IP socket communication. This API may satisfy a predetermined standard compatible with, for example, UNIX (registered trademark) of BSD (Berkeley Software Distribution). Note that the task 200 may be, for example, a process or thread to which execution rights are periodically given by the operating system.

  Instead of the library program that realizes socket communication, a library program that causes the central processing unit 22 to function as the communication module 210 is installed in the mobile phone 20. The task 200 transmits a control request for communication with the communication device 40 to the communication module 210 by calling the API of this installed library program instead of the API for controlling socket communication. The socket communication API and the API of the library program have the same calling interface, so that it is not necessary to modify the program to adapt to the communication module 210.

  When receiving a control request from the task 200, the communication module 210 transmits an instruction to execute control according to the control request to the proxy server 30 using the communication device 26. However, when the control request is received when the first communication line 25 is not communicable, the communication module 210 performs the following processing. The communication module 210 updates the communication state in the storage unit 24 without communicating with the proxy server 30 on condition that the received control request is a predetermined non-blocking control request. Then, the communication module 210 returns a communication state update result to the task 200. Then, on condition that the first communication line 25 is in a communicable state, the communication module 210 changes the communication state of the proxy server 30 with the communication device 40 to the communication state stored in the storage unit 24. Is sent to the proxy server 30. Thereby, even if the first communication line 25 is not communicable, the task 200 can continue the process without waiting for the first communication line 25 to be communicable.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the data structure of the storage unit 24. The storage unit 24 stores a communication state of each socket for the mobile phone 20 to perform socket communication with the communication device 40 in association with identification information (for example, an identifier called a file descriptor) of the socket. Further, the storage unit 24 associates with each socket, interrupts the processing until the port number assigned to the socket, the address of the communication buffer used for communication of the socket, and communication by the socket are completed. The identification number of the waiting task may be stored.

  As an example, a socket whose identification information is 1 is a generation state (denoted as an OPEN state) indicating that the socket has been newly generated. In addition, neither a port number nor a buffer address is assigned to this socket. A socket with identification information 5 is in a state in which data reception by the socket is being processed (referred to as a RECV state). The socket is assigned with an address of a communication buffer and an identification number of a task waiting for interruption of processing until the transmission / reception is completed.

  FIG. 4 shows a functional configuration of the communication module 210. The communication module 210 includes an update unit 220, a response unit 230, a control instruction unit 240, and a reception unit 250. In response to receiving a control request for communication with the communication device 40 from the task 200 executed by the central processing unit 22, the update unit 220 does not wait for completion of control corresponding to the control request. It is determined whether the non-blocking control request is determined in advance as the processing of the task 200 can be continued. For example, on the condition that the control request received from the task 200 is a request for securing or releasing a resource (such as a memory storage area) necessary for communication, the update unit 220 determines that the control request is a non-blocking control request. You may judge that.

  The update unit 220 is a non-blocking control request, even if the communication device 26 and the proxy server 30 are not communicable, after the control according to the control request is normally performed. The communication state of the storage unit 24 is updated to the state. On the other hand, on the condition that the control request received from the task 200 is a blocking control request that is not a non-blocking control request, the update unit 220 communicates with the storage unit 24 in response to reception of a control execution result by the receiving unit 250. Update state. For example, the update unit 220 determines that the control request is a blocking control request on condition that the control request received from the task 200 is a control request that requires data transmission / reception with the communication device 40.

  The reply unit 230 replies to the task 200 with the update result of the communication state corresponding to the control request. That is, for a non-blocking control request, the update result is returned to the task 200 without waiting for execution of control according to the request. On the other hand, regarding the blocking control request, the execution result is returned to the task 200 in response to the reception unit 250 receiving the execution result of the control corresponding to the request from the proxy server 30. The control instruction unit 240 gives an instruction to change the communication state between the communication device 26 and the communication device 40 in the proxy server 30 to the communication state stored in the storage unit 24 when the communication device 26 can communicate with the proxy server 30. The data is transmitted to the proxy server 30 using the communication device 26.

  The receiving unit 250 receives the execution result of the control executed by the proxy server 30 in response to the instruction transmitted from the control instruction unit 240 from the proxy server 30 using the communication device 26. The execution result is notified to the update unit 220 and the response unit 230. When receiving the blocking control request, the updating unit 220 updates the communication state based on the execution result, and the response unit 230 returns the execution result to the task 200.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state transition of a communication state of communication between the mobile phone 20 and the communication device 40. In response to receiving the non-blocking control request, the update unit 220 sets the communication state stored in the storage unit 24 to a solid line in the drawing even when the communication device 26 and the proxy server 30 are not communicable. Update along. Hereinafter, the transition of the communication state in response to the non-blocking control request will be specifically described. First, if a socket has not been created, there is no state corresponding to that socket. This state is referred to as an empty state of the socket for convenience. In response to a control request for generating a new socket, the update unit 220 associates the newly generated socket with identification information of the socket to be generated and indicates a generation state (OPEN state in FIG. 5) indicating that the socket has been newly generated. The communication state is stored in the storage unit 24. The identification information may be generated by the update unit 220 regardless of the socket identification information generated by the proxy server 30. This control request is a socket system call in the BSD Socket API. Since this control request is a non-blocking control request, the communication state is updated without waiting for execution of control in the proxy server 30.

Next, in response to receiving the control request for enabling the communication request from the communication device 40 to be received in association with the identification information of the socket, the update unit 220 displays the communication state corresponding to the identification information as a buffer. To the assigned state (the LISTEN state in FIG. 5). This control request requests the proxy server 30 to allocate a buffer for storing a communication request received from the communication device 40 to the socket. As an example, this control request is a listen system call in the BSD Socket API. Since this control request is also a non-blocking control request, the communication state is updated without waiting for the execution of the control. In the OPEN state, the LISTEN state, or the CONNECTED state, which will be described later, the update unit 220 sets the communication state corresponding to the identification state to an empty state in response to receiving the control request for releasing the socket in association with the identification information of the socket. Return to. This control is performed by, for example, BSD Soc
This is a close system call in the ket API. Since this control request is also a non-blocking control request, the communication state is updated without waiting for the execution of the control.

  The update unit 220 is a non-blocking control request on the condition that the control request received from the task 200 is a request to change the attribute of communication between the communication device 26 and the communication device 40. Judge. For example, in the OPEN state, the update unit 220 stores the port number in association with the identification information in response to receiving the control request for assigning the designated port number to the socket in association with the identification information of the socket. Store in the unit 24. This control request is, for example, a bind system call in the BSD Socket API. Since this control request is also a non-blocking control request, the port number is assigned without waiting for execution of control in the proxy server 30.

  On the other hand, in response to receiving the blocking control request, the updating unit 220 updates the communication state stored in the storage unit 24 along the dotted line in the drawing in response to the reception of the control execution result by the receiving unit 250. . Hereinafter, the transition of the communication state according to the blocking control request will be specifically described. The update unit 220 receives a control request received from the task 200 as a request for detecting whether the communication device 26 and the communication device 40 can communicate, a request for returning a communication permission in response to the communication request from the communication device 40, Alternatively, it is determined that these requests are blocking control requests on condition that they are data transmission / reception requests. For example, the update unit 220 has received a control request (for example, a select system call) for detecting whether the communication device 26 and the communication device 40 can communicate with each other in the LISTEN state in association with the identification information of the socket. Accordingly, the communication state corresponding to the identification information is updated to the communication waiting state (LISTEN + SELECT state in FIG. 5). The select system call issues a request to check the status of multiple sockets. According to this system call, check whether data can be read from each socket, whether data can be written to each socket, or whether an error has occurred in reading / writing. Can do. When the reception unit 250 receives the detection result indicating whether communication is possible, performed by the proxy server 30, the update unit 220 returns the communication state corresponding to the identification information to the assigned state. Thus, since this control request is a blocking control request, the execution result is notified to the task 200 after execution of the control by the proxy server 30.

  Further, in response to the fact that the update unit 220 receives a control request (for example, an accept system call) for returning a communication permission response to the communication request from the communication device 40 in association with the identification information of the socket in the LISTEN state. The communication state corresponding to the identification information is updated to a communication acceptance state that accepts communication (ACCEPT state in FIG. 5). When the receiving unit 250 receives the execution result of the control executed by the proxy server 30, the update unit 220 returns the communication state corresponding to the identification information to the assigned state. Further, when a new socket is generated by this control, the update unit 220 stores the new socket identification information in the storage unit 24 and associates it with the identification information (in FIG. 5, CONNECTED). State) may be stored. In this case, the update unit 220 notifies the proxy server 30 of the identification information so as to associate the newly generated identification information with the socket generated by the proxy server 30. Since this control request is a blocking control request, the execution result is returned after execution of the control by the proxy server 30.

  In addition, the updating unit 220 receives a control request (for example, a select system call, a recv system call, or a send system call) that requires transmission / reception of data using a socket in association with the identification information of the socket. Accordingly, it is determined that a blocking control request has been received. Then, the update unit 220 updates the communication state corresponding to the identification information to a communication waiting state (in FIG. 5, a SELECT state, a RECV state, or a SEND state). When the receiving unit 250 receives the data transmission / reception result executed by the proxy server 30, the updating unit 220 returns the communication state corresponding to the identification information to the connected state. Thus, since this control request is a blocking control request, the execution result is notified to the task 200 after execution of the control by the proxy server 30.

  FIG. 6 shows a communication state of the mobile phone 20 and an instruction to be transmitted to the communication device 40 correspondingly. A specific example of processing by the control instruction unit 240 will be described with reference to FIG. The control instruction unit 240 performs an instruction to change the communication state of the proxy server 30 with the communication device 40 to the communication state stored in the storage unit 24 in a state where the communication device 26 and the proxy server 30 can communicate with each other. Send to server 30. In order to realize this, first, the control instruction unit 240 searches the central processing unit 22 for a communication state corresponding to each socket. Then, the control instruction unit 240 transmits an instruction associated with the searched communication state in advance to the proxy server 30. FIG. 6 shows the correspondence between communication states and instructions in this process. That is, in response to a search for the OPEN state for a certain socket, the control instruction unit 240 transmits an instruction to execute the socket system call to the proxy server 30. In addition, on the condition that the communication state of the other socket is the LISTEN state, the control instruction unit 240 generates a new socket and manages it in association with the identification information (for example, an instruction to execute a socket system call). And an instruction (for example, an instruction to execute a listen system call) to allocate a buffer for storing a communication request received from the communication device 40 to the socket is transmitted to the proxy server 30. Further, in response to the search of the SELECT state for other sockets, the control instruction unit 240 transmits to the proxy server 30 instructions to sequentially execute the socket system call and the select system call in this order. Further, in response to the search for the LISTEN + SELECT state for another socket, the control instruction unit 240 instructs the proxy server 30 to execute the socket system call, the bind system call, the listen system call, and the select system call in this order. Send to.

  FIG. 7 shows a functional configuration of the proxy server 30. The proxy server 30 includes a central processing unit 32, a storage unit 34, a LAN interface 36, and a serial interface 38. The storage unit 34 includes first identification information (for example, referred to as fd) of a socket designated from the mobile phone 20 and second identification information (for example, referred to as a handle) of a socket for the proxy server 30 to communicate with the communication device 40. Are stored in association with each other. Thus, although the first identification information and the second identification information may be different, the corresponding first identification information and second identification information together identify the same socket generated by the proxy server 30. That is, a certain socket generated by the proxy server 30 is identified by the first identification information depending on the task 200 operating on the mobile phone 20, and is identified by the second identification information depending on the communication module 310 operating on the proxy server 30. Is done.

  The LAN interface 36 communicates with the communication device 40 via a second communication line 35 such as Ethernet (registered trademark). The LAN interface 36 performs necessary communication with the communication device 40 as a result of communication control between the mobile phone 20 and the communication device 40. On the other hand, the serial interface 38 communicates with the mobile phone 20 via the first communication line 25. The first communication line 25 is, for example, a serial line, a parallel line, or a USB (Universal Serial Bus). The serial interface 38 receives a communication control instruction from the mobile phone 20 or transmits a communication control execution result to the mobile phone 20.

The central processing unit 32 functions as a socket generation unit 300, a communication module 310, an ID management unit 320, and a transmission / reception unit 330 by a program installed in advance. The communication module 310 is realized by a library program for realizing socket communication, such as a Windows (registered trademark) operating system. The communication module 310 controls communication between the proxy server 30 and the communication device 40. The socket generation unit 300 generates a socket used for communication between the proxy server 30 and the communication device 40 in response to receiving an instruction to newly generate a socket and manage it in association with the first identification information. To obtain the second identification information. The generation of the socket is realized by calling a system call to the communication module 310.

  The ID management unit 320 stores the first identification information received by the serial interface 38 and the second identification information acquired by the socket generation unit 300 in the storage unit 34 in association with each other. In response to receiving an instruction to transmit / receive data using a socket from the serial interface 38 in association with the first identification information of the socket, the transmission / reception unit 330 receives the second identification information corresponding to the first identification information in the storage unit 34. Search for identification information. And the transmission / reception part 330 transmits / receives data with the communication apparatus 40 using the socket identified by the searched 2nd identification information. Data transmission / reception between the proxy server 30 and the communication device 40 is realized by calling a system call to the communication module 310.

  In the present embodiment, the proxy server 30 and the communication device 40 are shown as separate devices. However, the same information processing device may function as the proxy server 30 and the communication device 40, respectively. In this case, the transmission / reception unit 330 performs communication by TCP / IP with other tasks operating in the proxy server 30. As described above, the control target by the proxy server 30 may be communication between another task in the proxy server 30 and the mobile phone 20.

  FIG. 8 shows a first example of processing by the mobile phone 20 and the proxy server 30. The task 200 sends a control request for creating a new socket to the communication module 210 (S800). This control request is realized, for example, by calling a socket system call. Upon receiving this control request, the update unit 220 generates first identification information (fd) of a newly generated socket regardless of whether the communication device 26 and the proxy server 30 can communicate (S810). Next, the update unit 220 stores a generation state (OPEN state) indicating that a socket has been newly generated in the storage unit 24 as a communication state in association with the generated first identification information (S820). Next, the response unit 230 returns the first identification information to the task 200 as a communication state update result (S825). The BSD Socket API standard stipulates that −1 is returned when a socket system call fails, and that socket identification information is returned when the socket system call is successful. For this reason, returning the first identification information of the socket returns a response indicating that the update of the communication state was successful. In response to the update result response, the task 200 performs the next processing determined by the application program (S830).

  In a state where the communication device 26 and the proxy server 30 can communicate with each other, or when the communication device 26 and the proxy server 30 become communicable, the following processing is subsequently performed. On the condition that the communication state stored in the storage unit 24 is the generation state (OPEN state), the control instruction unit 240 performs an instruction to newly generate a socket and manage it in association with the first identification information. It transmits to the server 30 (S840). For example, the control instruction unit 240 may transmit an API number for identifying a socket system call to be executed and first identification information (fd) to be managed in association with the generated socket. Further, the control instruction unit 240 may transmit a designated argument to the proxy server 30 when receiving a system call from the task 200. Upon receiving this instruction, the socket generation unit 300 generates a socket used for communication between the proxy server 30 and the communication device 40 and generates second identification information of the socket (S850). Then, the ID management unit 320 manages the received first identification information and the generated second identification information in association with each other.

  As described above, when the non-blocking control request is received as in the example of the socket system call, the update unit 220 updates the communication state without waiting for the completion of the control according to the control request. Then, the response unit 230 returns the update result of the communication state to the task 200. Thereby, the task 200 can continue processing the word even when the first communication line 25 between the mobile phone 20 and the proxy server 30 is not communicable. The socket system call is an example of a non-blocking control request, and the listen system call is the same as the example of FIG. That is, when the communication module 210 receives a listen system call for allocating a buffer to a socket, the update is performed even if the first communication line 25 between the mobile phone 20 and the proxy server 30 is not communicable. The unit 220 updates the communication state to the allocated state (LISTEN state), and the response unit 230 returns a response to the task 200 that the buffer allocation has been successful. As described above, by delaying the actual control until the start of communication in response to the resource allocation request, even if the mobile phone 20 and the proxy server 30 cannot communicate with each other, the processing of the task 200 can be continued. .

  FIG. 9 shows a second example of processing by the mobile phone 20 and the proxy server 30. The task 200 transmits a control request for detecting whether or not the communication device 26 and the communication device 40 can communicate using the socket to the communication module 210 in association with the first identification information of the socket (S900). This control request is realized, for example, by calling a select system call. When receiving the control request, the updating unit 220 updates the communication state of the socket corresponding to the first identification information to a communication waiting state (S910). Then, the update unit 220 suspends the processing of the task 200 and waits until the communication device 26 and the proxy server 30 can communicate with each other (S920). In this case, the update unit 220 may store the identification information for identifying the task 200 that is waiting in association with the first identification information in association with the storage unit 24.

  In a state where the communication device 26 and the proxy server 30 can communicate with each other, the reply unit 230 sends the following instructions to the proxy server 30 on condition that the communication state is a communication waiting state (S930). The instruction includes an instruction to newly generate a socket and manage it in association with the first identification information (for example, an instruction to execute a socket system call), an instruction to allocate a buffer for storing a communication request to the socket (for example, an instruction to execute the listen system call) and an instruction to detect whether communication is possible using the socket (for example, an instruction to execute the select system call). The response unit 230 may transmit the API number for identifying each system call and the first identification information of the socket to be controlled in association with each other to the proxy server 30.

  In response to these instructions, the socket generator 300 controls communication (S940). First, the socket generation unit 300 generates a socket used for communication between the proxy server 30 and the communication device 40 and generates second identification information of the socket (S940). Then, the ID management unit 320 stores the second identification information in the storage unit 34 in association with the first identification information. Note that even when the socket generation unit 300 receives an instruction to newly generate a socket and manage it in association with the identification information, the identification information is already stored in the storage unit 34 as the first identification information. If so, it is not necessary to create a new socket. In that case, the ID management unit 320 and the transmission / reception unit 330 perform other processing on the socket identified by the second identification information corresponding to the first identification information already stored.

  The socket generation unit 300 assigns a buffer for storing a communication request to the socket identified by the second identification information. And the transmission / reception part 330 transmits / receives data with the communication apparatus 40 using the socket. For example, the transmission / reception unit 330 detects whether communication using the socket is possible by communicating with the communication device 40. When the detection is completed, the detection result is notified to the communication module 210. When the reception unit 250 receives a detection result indicating whether or not communication by the proxy server 30 is possible, the response unit 230 returns the detection result to the task 200 (S950). In addition, the update unit 220 returns the communication state corresponding to the first identification information to the assigned state. In response to this, the task 200 continues the next process (S960).

  As described above with reference to FIG. 9, the blocking control request that requires data transmission / reception is returned to the task in response to the completion of the control according to the request. That is, the task 200 suspends processing until transmission / reception is completed. The communication module 210 instructs the proxy server 30 to perform control corresponding to the socket system call and listen system call that have been received before, even if the system call that has recently been received is only select. Thereby, matching of the communication state in the mobile phone 20 and the communication state in the proxy server 30 can be maintained.

  FIG. 10 shows a third example of processing by the mobile phone 20 and the proxy server 30. A typical example of processing of an application program that performs socket communication will be described with reference to FIG. When the task 200 calls the socket system call to the communication module 210 (S1000), the update unit 220 generates first identification information of the socket (S1010), and the response unit 230 sends the first identification information to the task 200. A response is made (S1020). When the task 200 calls a bind system call that assigns the designated port number to the socket (S1030), the update unit 220 stores the port number in the storage unit 24 in association with the first identification information of the socket. . The reply unit 230 then replies to the task 200 that the port number assignment has been successful (S1040).

When the task 200 calls the listen system call to the communication module 210 (S1050), the update unit 220 updates the communication state to the assigned state, and the response unit 230 returns a response to the task 200 that the buffer allocation has been successful. (S1055). Next, when the task 200 calls an accept system call that returns a communication permission response to the communication request from the communication device 40 (S1060), the update unit 220 sets the first identification information of the newly generated socket. Generated and stored in the storage unit 24. In addition, the update unit 220 updates the communication state corresponding to the first identification information to the communication acceptance state (ACCEPT state), and interrupts the processing of the task 200 until the mobile phone 20 and the proxy server 30 can communicate with each other. .
As described above, the processing of the task 200 is executed without interruption until a blocking control request such as an accept system call is issued.

  In a state where the mobile phone 20 and the proxy server 30 can communicate with each other, the control instruction unit 240 sends the following instructions to the proxy server 30 (S1065). The instruction includes an instruction to newly create a socket and manage it in association with the first identification information (for example, an instruction to execute a socket system call), and a buffer for storing a communication request received from the communication device 40. (For example, an instruction for executing a listen system call) and an instruction for returning a communication permission in response to a communication request from the communication device 40 (for example, an instruction for executing an accept system call). On the condition that the port number is associated with the first identification information and stored, the control instruction unit 240 further associates an instruction to assign the port number with the port number to the proxy server 30. You may send it.

  Further, the control instruction unit 240 generates first identification information (newfd) to be managed in association with a socket newly generated by an accept system call. Specifically, the control instruction unit 240 searches the storage unit 24 for an entry associated with the empty state. Then, the control instruction unit 240 acquires the identification information of the socket corresponding to the entry. For example, the entry illustrated in the third line in FIG. 3 is associated with an empty state. This entry is located in the next line of the entry having 2 as the first identification information. Therefore, the control instruction unit 240 generates 3 obtained by adding 1 to 2 as the first identification information (newfd) and stores it in the storage unit 24. Then, the control instruction unit 240 notifies the proxy server 30 of the first identification information (newfd) so as to associate the newly generated first identification information (newfd) with the socket generated by the proxy server 30. To do.

  In response to these instructions, the socket generation unit 300 calls a socket system call, a bind system call, a listen system call, and an accept system call (S1070). In addition, the identification information management unit 320 of the proxy server 30 stores the received first identification information (newfd) and the second identification information of the newly generated socket in the storage unit 34 in association with each other. The execution results of these system calls are returned to the communication module 210 (S1075). In response to this, the updating unit 220 returns the communication state corresponding to the first identification information (fd) to the assigned state (LISTEN state), and sets the communication state corresponding to the first identification information (newfd) to the connected state. Update. The response unit 230 returns the first identification information (newfd) to the task 200 as the execution result of these controls (S1080). As a result, the task 200 can cancel the interruption of processing and perform the next processing.

  As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, even when the first communication line 25 between the mobile phone 20 and the proxy server 30 is not valid, actual communication such as securing and releasing of the socket-related resources is not required. As for control, it is possible to continue the execution of the task 200 assuming that the control is successful. Then, when the communication is actually started, the execution of the task 200 is stopped for the first time, and processing such as resource reservation / release is performed. Thus, even when the first communication line 25 can be disconnected, the TCP / IP communication by the task 200 can be continued. As a result, a serial interface, a parallel interface, or the like can be employed as the first communication line 25 instead of Ethernet (registered trademark), and the first communication line 25 can be temporarily disconnected. Accordingly, in order not to affect the operation status of the mobile phone 20, the mobile phone 20 is normally operated in a state disconnected from the proxy server 30, and connected to the proxy server 30 and debugged only when necessary. it can.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 600 that functions as the proxy server 30. The information processing apparatus 600 includes a CPU peripheral unit including a CPU 1000, a RAM 1020, and a graphic controller 1075 connected to each other by a host controller 1082, a communication interface 1030, a hard disk drive 1040, and the like connected to the host controller 1082 by an input / output controller 1084. And an input / output unit having a CD-ROM drive 1060 and a legacy input / output unit having a ROM 1010 connected to an input / output controller 1084, a flexible disk drive 1050, and an input / output chip 1070.

  The host controller 1082 connects the RAM 1020 to the CPU 1000 and the graphic controller 1075 that access the RAM 1020 at a high transfer rate. The CPU 1000 operates based on programs stored in the ROM 1010 and the RAM 1020, and controls each unit. For example, the CPU 1000 functions as the central processing unit 32 described with reference to FIG. The graphic controller 1075 acquires image data generated by the CPU 1000 or the like on a frame buffer provided in the RAM 1020 and displays it on the display device 1080. Alternatively, the graphic controller 1075 may include a frame buffer that stores image data generated by the CPU 1000 or the like.

  The input / output controller 1084 connects the host controller 1082 to the communication interface 1030, the hard disk drive 1040, and the CD-ROM drive 1060, which are relatively high-speed input / output devices. The communication interface 1030 communicates with an external device via a network. For example, the communication interface 1030 functions as the LAN interface 36 described with reference to FIG. The hard disk drive 1040 stores programs and data used by the information processing apparatus 600. The CD-ROM drive 1060 reads a program or data from the CD-ROM 1095 and provides it to the RAM 1020 or the hard disk drive 1040. The RAM 1020 may function as the storage unit 34 described with reference to FIG.

  The input / output controller 1084 is connected to the ROM 1010 and relatively low-speed input / output devices such as the flexible disk drive 1050 and the input / output chip 1070. The input / output chip 1070 may function as the serial interface 38, for example. The ROM 1010 stores a boot program executed by the CPU 1000 when the information processing apparatus 600 is activated, a program depending on the hardware of the information processing apparatus 600, and the like. The flexible disk drive 1050 reads a program or data from the flexible disk 1090 and provides it to the RAM 1020 or the hard disk drive 1040 via the input / output chip 1070. The input / output chip 1070 connects various input / output devices via a flexible disk 1090 and, for example, a parallel port, a serial port, a keyboard port, a mouse port, and the like.

A program provided to the information processing apparatus 600 is stored in a recording medium such as the flexible disk 1090, the CD-ROM 1095, or an IC card and provided by the user. The program is read from the recording medium via the input / output chip 1070 and / or the input / output controller 1084, installed in the information processing apparatus 600, and executed. The control program for controlling the mobile phone 20 may be supplied to the mobile phone 20 via the input / output chip 1070 and executed by being installed in the mobile phone 20. The operations that the program causes the information processing apparatus 600 to perform are the same as the operations in the proxy server 30 or the mobile phone 20 described with reference to FIGS.

  The program shown above may be stored in an external storage medium. As the storage medium, in addition to the flexible disk 1090 and the CD-ROM 1095, an optical recording medium such as a DVD or PD, a magneto-optical recording medium such as an MD, a tape medium, a semiconductor memory such as an IC card, or the like can be used. Further, a storage device such as a hard disk or a RAM provided in a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet may be used as a recording medium, and the program may be provided to the information processing device 600 via the network.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment. It is apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of the communication system 10. FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration of the mobile phone 20. FIG. 3 shows an example of the data structure of the storage unit 24. FIG. 4 shows a functional configuration of the communication module 210. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state transition of a communication state of communication between the mobile phone 20 and the communication device 40. FIG. 6 shows a communication state of the mobile phone 20 and an instruction to be transmitted to the communication device 40 correspondingly. FIG. 7 shows a functional configuration of the proxy server 30. FIG. 8 shows a first example of processing by the mobile phone 20 and the proxy server 30. FIG. 9 shows a second example of processing by the mobile phone 20 and the proxy server 30. FIG. 10 shows a third example of processing by the mobile phone 20 and the proxy server 30. FIG. 11 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 600 that functions as the proxy server 30.

Claims (16)

An embedded device that communicates with other devices via an external proxy server that performs communication control,
A communication device capable of communicating with the surrogate server;
A storage unit for storing a communication state with the other device;
In response to receiving a control request for communication with the other device from a task executed by the central processing unit, the control according to the control request is normally performed in a state where the communication device and the proxy server are not communicable. An update unit that updates the communication state to the state after
A response unit that returns an update result of the communication state according to the control request to the task;
In a state where the communication device is communicable with the proxy server, an instruction for transitioning the communication state between the other device in the proxy server to the communication state stored in the storage unit, the communication device A built-in device comprising: a control instruction unit that transmits to the proxy server. A reception unit that receives the execution result of the control executed by the proxy server according to the instruction transmitted by the control instruction unit from the proxy server using the communication device;
The update unit, the control request received from the task is a non-blocking control request determined in advance as being able to continue processing the task without waiting for the completion of control according to the control request The communication unit and the proxy server are updated on the condition that the communication state is updated even when the communication device is not communicable, and the control unit received from the task is not the non-blocking control request. The embedded device according to claim 1, wherein the communication state is updated in response to reception of the execution result by. The update unit determines that the control request is the non-blocking control request on the condition that the control request received from the task is a request to secure or release resources necessary for communication, and The control request received from a task is determined to be not the non-blocking control request on condition that the control request requires data transmission / reception with the other device. Built-in equipment. The update unit may further include the control request received from the task on the condition that the control request is a request to change an attribute of communication between the communication device and the other device. The embedded device according to claim 3, wherein the embedded device is determined to be a blocking control request. The update unit, on the condition that the control request received from the task is a request for detecting whether the communication device and the other device can communicate with each other, the control request is the non-blocking control. The embedded device according to claim 3, wherein the embedded device is determined not to be a request. The update unit is that the control request is not the non-blocking control request on condition that the control request received from the task is a request for returning a communication permission in response to a communication request from the other device. The embedded device according to claim 3. The proxy server is a proxy for TCP / IP communication control between the embedded device and the other device,
The storage unit stores the communication state of each socket in association with the identification information of the socket,
In response to the control request for generating a new socket, the update unit associates the generation state indicating that the socket has been newly generated with the communication state in the storage unit in association with the identification information of the newly generated socket. Remember,
The response unit returns the identification information to the task as the update result,
The control instruction unit generates a new socket and manages it in association with the identification information on condition that the communication state is the generation state when the communication device is communicable with the proxy server. The embedded device according to claim 3, wherein the instruction is transmitted to the proxy server. The update unit buffers the communication state corresponding to the identification information in response to receiving a control request for allocating a buffer for storing a communication request received from the other device to the socket in association with the identification information of the socket. To the assigned state of
The response unit responds to the task that the buffer allocation has been successful,
The control instruction unit creates a new socket and manages the communication device in association with the identification information on condition that the communication state is the assigned state when the communication device can communicate with the proxy server. The embedded device according to claim 7, wherein an instruction to perform and an instruction to allocate a buffer to the socket are transmitted to the proxy server. The update unit responds to the identification information in response to receiving the control request for detecting whether the communication device and the other apparatus can communicate with each other using the socket in association with the identification information of the socket. Update the communication state to a communication waiting state,
The control instruction unit generates a new socket and manages it in association with the identification information on condition that the communication state is the communication waiting state when the communication device is communicable with the proxy server. An instruction to allocate the buffer to the socket, and an instruction to detect whether or not communication by the socket is possible, and whether or not the reception unit can communicate by the proxy server. When the detection result is received,
The response unit returns the detection result to the task in response to reception of the detection result,
The embedded device according to claim 8, wherein the update unit returns the communication state corresponding to the identification information to the assigned state. In response to receiving the control request for assigning the designated port number to the socket in association with the identification information of the socket, the update unit stores the port number in association with the identification information in the storage unit,
The response unit responds to the task that the port number has been successfully assigned,
The control instruction unit further sets the port number on the condition that the communication device is stored in association with the identification information of the socket in a state where the communication device can communicate with the proxy server. The embedded device according to claim 9, which is transmitted to the proxy server. The embedded device is installed with a library program that causes the central processing unit to function as the update unit, the response unit, the control instruction unit, and the reception unit, instead of the library program that realizes socket communication. And
The task sends the control request to the update unit by calling an API of the installed library program,
The update unit receives the non-blocking control request from the task on condition that at least one of a socket system call, a bind system call, a listen system call, and a close system call is received from the task. The non-blocking control request is not issued from the task on the condition that the task receives at least one of the accept system call, the select system call, the recv system call, and the send system call. The embedded device according to claim 7, wherein it is determined that a control request has been received. A proxy server that performs control of communication with other devices by an embedded device,
A storage unit for storing the first identification information of the socket designated from the embedded device and the second identification information of the socket for the proxy server to communicate with the other device;
In response to receiving an instruction to newly generate a socket and manage it in association with the first identification information, a socket used for communication between the proxy server and the other device is generated and second identification is performed. A socket generator that obtains information;
A proxy server comprising: an identification information management unit that stores the received first identification information and the generated second identification information of the socket in association with each other. Even when the socket generation unit receives an instruction to newly generate a socket and manage it in association with the identification information, the identification information is already stored in the storage unit as the first identification information. The proxy server according to claim 12, wherein no new socket is generated.   Using the socket identified by the second identification information corresponding to the first identification information in the storage unit in response to receiving an instruction to transmit / receive data using the socket in association with the first identification information of the socket The proxy server according to claim 12, further comprising a transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives data to / from the other device. A control program for controlling an embedded device that communicates with another device via an external proxy server that performs control of communication,
The embedded device
A communication device capable of communicating with the surrogate server;
A storage unit for storing a communication state with the other device;
In response to receiving a control request for communication with the other device from a task executed by the central processing unit, the control according to the control request is normally performed in a state where the communication device and the proxy server are not communicable. An update unit that updates the communication state to the state after
A response unit that returns an update result of the communication state according to the control request to the task;
In a state where the communication device is communicable with the proxy server, an instruction for transitioning the communication state between the other device in the proxy server to the communication state stored in the storage unit, the communication device A control program that is used to function as a control instruction unit that transmits to the proxy server. A method for controlling an embedded device that communicates with another device via an external proxy server that performs control of communication,
The embedded device is
A communication device capable of communicating with the surrogate server;
A storage unit for storing a communication state with the other device,
In response to receiving a control request for communication with the other device from a task executed by the central processing unit, the control according to the control request is normally performed in a state where the communication device and the proxy server are not communicable. Updating the communication state to a state after going to
Returning an update result of the communication state in response to the control request to the task;
In a state where the communication device is communicable with the proxy server, an instruction for transitioning the communication state between the other device in the proxy server to the communication state stored in the storage unit, the communication device And transmitting to the surrogate server.

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